Apple countersues, seeks damages from Fortnite publisher Epic Games in high stakes legal dispute

Apple is seeking damages from Epic Games in the skirmish started last month by the publisher of popular online video game Fortnite. Epic Games' move on Aug. 13 to offer a direct payment option for Fortnite mobile players, bypassing Apple's App store payment function and Apple's cut of the revenue amounted to "malicious and/or fraudulent misconduct," Apple says in a filing answering Epic Games' suit. That breach of contract, Apple asserts in its filing, entitles the tech giant to punitive damages, along with compensatory damages, legal fees and interest. The sought-after amount is not mentioned in the countersuit, filed in U.S. District Court in California. "Epic fired the first shot in this dispute, and its willful, brazen, and unlawful conduct cannot be left unchecked," Apple says in the filing.